Comments on: Follow-up Porta-bote Review and Aftermath http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/ The Time Traveller (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to us. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:28:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: alouwomack http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-14629 alouwomack Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:12:37 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-14629 Well, I'm not sure where to begin . . . First of all, I would like to thank Cheyenne & Joshua for this blog . . . without it I would not have "squeaked my wheel" so loudly in defense of the Porta-bote that my husband and I own. We recently discovered a crack in the fold of the bladder and contacted Sandy to find out what we should do. Shipping from Texas to California and back to Texas would be quite expensive--we both agreed. So, he suggested something called Scotch Weld . . . but I wasn't sure . . . so I did a little research and that's when I found this blog and a group on Yahoo called PortabotersWorldWide --http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PortaBotersWorldWide/. I started a post on this Yahoo Group to see what others thought and told everyone that Sandy said this is not a problem he's heard of before--just like he told me on the phone when we first spoke. He of course denied this on the Group and tried to turn it all around on me: I never sent the pictures of the damage like I said I would, I refused to ship the boat back, etc., etc., etc. The moral of the story is: Sandy is sending us a new hull . . . even though he doesn't think we deserve it. Basically he wants me to hush up and in turn he looks like a respectable business man who went above and beyond to make the ungrateful customer happy. ((And he did in this instance--just like he did for Cheyenne and Joshua--but I believe it was solely because he was being held accountable in a semi-public setting where others would know the outcome.)) I've received some flack from other Porta-Bote owners for being a whiner and disrespectful, etc., etc., etc. You know that saying, "when you walk a mile in my shoes"? What a painful walk this has been! All in all, I think everything turned out okay. And I feel good knowing I didn't lie or cheat to get justice! I love the Porta-Bote and don't intend on tarnishing its name. And for the record, thank you Sandy for sending us a new hull. We are truly appreciative. Well, I’m not sure where to begin . . .

First of all, I would like to thank Cheyenne & Joshua for this blog . . . without it I would not have “squeaked my wheel” so loudly in defense of the Porta-bote that my husband and I own.

We recently discovered a crack in the fold of the bladder and contacted Sandy to find out what we should do. Shipping from Texas to California and back to Texas would be quite expensive–we both agreed. So, he suggested something called Scotch Weld . . . but I wasn’t sure . . . so I did a little research and that’s when I found this blog and a group on Yahoo called PortabotersWorldWide –http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PortaBotersWorldWide/. I started a post on this Yahoo Group to see what others thought and told everyone that Sandy said this is not a problem he’s heard of before–just like he told me on the phone when we first spoke. He of course denied this on the Group and tried to turn it all around on me: I never sent the pictures of the damage like I said I would, I refused to ship the boat back, etc., etc., etc.

The moral of the story is: Sandy is sending us a new hull . . . even though he doesn’t think we deserve it. Basically he wants me to hush up and in turn he looks like a respectable business man who went above and beyond to make the ungrateful customer happy. ((And he did in this instance–just like he did for Cheyenne and Joshua–but I believe it was solely because he was being held accountable in a semi-public setting where others would know the outcome.)) I’ve received some flack from other Porta-Bote owners for being a whiner and disrespectful, etc., etc., etc. You know that saying, “when you walk a mile in my shoes”? What a painful walk this has been! All in all, I think everything turned out okay. And I feel good knowing I didn’t lie or cheat to get justice!

I love the Porta-Bote and don’t intend on tarnishing its name. And for the record, thank you Sandy for sending us a new hull. We are truly appreciative.

]]> By: GB trading http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-13968 GB trading Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:56:53 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-13968 Hello Porta-Bote friends, I have read the comments above and this is my reaction. We are the Porta-Bote distributor for the Netherlands, Belgium and France for over 15 years now. Of course during this time we have had also a few customers with a warranty case. Just as it will be with any other product. But I can say that we have had no troubles at all with Porta-Bote USA regarding the warranty. We always could satisfy our customers again. It is always so pity that only the customers with a bad experiance show their problems and all the customers who are satisfied you never hear. As you can read above it is also always that the negative people are often to believed more than all the positive and happy one's. Therefore,..happy owners. Please identify yourself. It must be more than 95%!! Many happy watersport and fishing time wishes to all Porta-Bote owners. GB trading - The Netherlands Hello Porta-Bote friends,

I have read the comments above and this is my reaction. We are the Porta-Bote distributor
for the Netherlands, Belgium and France for over 15 years now. Of course during this time we have had also a few customers with a warranty case. Just as it will be with any other product.
But I can say that we have had no troubles at all with Porta-Bote USA regarding the warranty. We always could satisfy our customers again.
It is always so pity that only the customers with a bad experiance show their problems and all the customers who are satisfied you never hear. As you can read above it is also always that the negative people are often to believed more than all the positive and happy one’s.
Therefore,..happy owners. Please identify yourself. It must be more than 95%!!

Many happy watersport and fishing time wishes to all Porta-Bote owners.

GB trading - The Netherlands

]]> By: Ross Bell http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-13284 Ross Bell Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:44:29 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-13284 I am looking at the 12ft porta for fishing (standing up flicking lures) with 1 or 2 in the boat. Mainly river mouths and generally sheltered water. On a good day some open ocean stuff. Probably use a 6hp 4 stroke. Interested in any comments about the stability of the craft and ease of fishing/ maneuverability Thanks I am looking at the 12ft porta for fishing (standing up flicking lures) with 1 or 2 in the boat. Mainly river mouths and generally sheltered water. On a good day some open ocean stuff. Probably use a 6hp 4 stroke.

Interested in any comments about the stability of the craft and ease of fishing/ maneuverability
Thanks

]]> By: Rob Davids http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-12896 Rob Davids Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:12:59 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-12896 I have been researching this boat because of it being so portable. I was interested in getting the 14' model but after reading about how the company handles their customers in this review, I am definitely changing my mind and will be letting my friends know as well who were also interested in this boat. I have been researching this boat because of it being so portable. I was interested in getting the 14′ model but after reading about how the company handles their customers in this review, I am definitely changing my mind and will be letting my friends know as well who were also interested in this boat.

]]> By: mel shapiro http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-12881 mel shapiro Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:29:49 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-12881 I am fishing the rivers and inlets here in Alaska and saw the Porta-Bote as a practical boat for my purpose. But having read the above comments I'm left with the feeling that the company doesn't give a damn about its customers or its warranty. Considering the cost of these things one would hope the company was more prompt to satisfy a sold customer. I've always had good performance from AVON Inflatables.... I am fishing the rivers and inlets here in Alaska and saw the Porta-Bote as a practical boat for my purpose. But having read the above comments I’m left with the feeling that the company doesn’t give a damn about its customers or its warranty. Considering the cost of these things one would hope the company was more prompt to satisfy a sold customer. I’ve always had good performance from AVON Inflatables….

]]> By: L S Miller http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-10506 L S Miller Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:50:15 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-10506 I have a different problem, and am looking to see if others have had that. I had a wooden transom, so no problem there, but the so-called "bladder" (the folding bit that keeps the water out)has split virtually from top to bottom on one diagonal fold. It has had only light use and never been stressed out(I only used a Min-Kota electric motor, and mostly just rowed), so the only possibility is that it was unfit for the purpose. It is my belief that it was never properly "hinged", so that each folding operation stressed it out further until it failed from fatigue. There is a ten-year warranty on the hull, but (based on the details of that), the only deal Sandy would give me (the boat is only 5 years old) would cost me about £650, which is too much. Additionally, he suggested "somthing may have slammed into that area"; this is nonsense because it would have left visible stress marks (white on the green)and becaause I know that did not happen. Please contact bote.miller@ntlworld.com if you have any relevant information. I have a different problem, and am looking to see if others have had that. I had a wooden transom, so no problem there, but the so-called “bladder” (the folding bit that keeps the water out)has split virtually from top to bottom on one diagonal fold. It has had only light use and never been stressed out(I only used a Min-Kota electric motor, and mostly just rowed), so the only possibility is that it was unfit for the purpose. It is my belief that it was never properly “hinged”, so that each folding operation stressed it out further until it failed from fatigue. There is a ten-year warranty on the hull, but (based on the details of that), the only deal Sandy would give me (the boat is only 5 years old) would cost me about £650, which is too much. Additionally, he suggested “somthing may have slammed into that area”; this is nonsense because it would have left visible stress marks (white on the green)and becaause I know that did not happen. Please contact bote.miller@ntlworld.com if you have any relevant information.

]]> By: TimeMachine » 1.3-Year Porta-Bote and Kayak Review http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-10429 TimeMachine » 1.3-Year Porta-Bote and Kayak Review Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:24:15 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-10429 [...] Follow-up Porta-bote Review and Aftermath Porta-bote Redux Redux Porta-bote again [...] [...] Follow-up Porta-bote Review and Aftermath Porta-bote Redux Redux Porta-bote again [...]

]]> By: Lee http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-10382 Lee Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:38:48 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-10382 Sounds to me like you might be better off making your own transom from marine plywood. A couple 3/4 inch pieces glued together and drilled to mount in the plastic transoms stead would probably solve this for good. I know they're heavier, but weight and strength are sometimes tradeoffs. Short of building a transon using carbon fiber or kevlar... Sounds to me like you might be better off making your own transom from marine plywood. A couple 3/4 inch pieces glued together and drilled to mount in the plastic transoms stead would probably solve this for good. I know they’re heavier, but weight and strength are sometimes tradeoffs. Short of building a transon using carbon fiber or kevlar…

]]> By: Jeff E http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-8704 Jeff E Sat, 30 Jun 2007 02:22:42 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-8704 how is the port a bote now i still have my 14 thinking about selling it Jeff how is the port a bote now
i still have my 14 thinking about selling it
Jeff

]]> By: Jacky http://sv-timemachine.net/2007/02/follow-up-porta-bote-review-and-aftermath/#comment-8568 Jacky Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:05:42 +0000 http://sv-timemachine.net/?p=227#comment-8568 I had a similar problem with my transom, transom where the motor mounted cracked after I use it couple times with a small gas motor. I contacted Porta Bote and was told that it was my fault because I used a wrong (older) motor. I was told that out of 70,000+ Bote sold I was the only one that have a transom problem. I finally talked to the manufacturer and was told that a reinforement bracket was added to the transom since I bought it. They finally COD me a scratch-up transom after I bugged them long enough. By the way, I think the reinforcement bracket helps but not enough because it is in the wrong place (at the bottom instead of at the top). Transom should be redesigned with a different manufacturing process if they really want to fix the problem. I had a similar problem with my transom, transom where the motor mounted cracked after I use it couple times with a small gas motor. I contacted Porta Bote and was told that it was my fault because I used a wrong (older) motor. I was told that out of 70,000+ Bote sold I was the only one that have a transom problem. I finally talked to the manufacturer and was told that a reinforement bracket was added to the transom since I bought it. They finally COD me a scratch-up transom after I bugged them long enough.

By the way, I think the reinforcement bracket helps but not enough because it is in the wrong place (at the bottom instead of at the top). Transom should be redesigned with a different manufacturing process if they really want to fix the problem.

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